The fracing industry has long considered water a nuisance. But water reclamation and treatment companies see H2O as liquid gold, and the technologies they bring to the game will play a pivotal role in the shale boom.

Increasing transparency about the responsible and safe development of hydraulic fracturing is an ongoing challenge for the industry.

New fracture designs, integrated workflows, and incremental changes in technology continue to improve the cost effectiveness of unconventional well completions.

Risks, though, are higher for wastewater injection wells inducing earthquakes that can be felt by people, according to National Research Council report.